The Boise State football team was making history until they lost this past weekend to Nevada. The Boise State Broncos were riding an undefeated season until Friday night when they lost to number 21 Nevada. The Boise State Broncos had turned a lot of heads this season. Boise State has been ranked in the top 5 teams in the nation since October 1st. Some people believe the Boise State football team are a joke because they are not in a tough division and therefore do not play tough teams. Prior to Friday’s loss to Nevada, Boise State was in serious contention of playing in the BCS Bowl game which features the two best teams in the Nation. With the loss on Friday night, it is very unlikely Boise State will be voted into the BCS game.
Friday night’s loss to Nevada not only was a loss, but a loss that has come with a lot of controversy. Boise State had two opportunities to win the game by a field goal. The field goal kicker for Boise State, Kyle Brotzman, missed both of them. One was in the 4th quarter, and the other field goal opportunity was missed in overtime. If Brotzman had made one of the two field goals, it would have propelled Boise State to a victory, keep them undefeated, and their hopes alive to play in the BCS National bowl game. Since Friday night, Kyle Brotzman has been blamed for the missed field goals and has been receiving death threats among students, and fans. Fans have taunted and harassed Brotzman since last Friday night’s lost. Some people have left harassing and taunting messages on his phone. Some people have created facebook groups to express their opinions about Brotzman publicly. One person wrote on a social networking site, “Yes Brotzman, You single handedly, 100%, blew the game.” Supporters of Brotzman started their own facebook groups called Bronco Nation Loves Kyle Brotzman, and We Still Love Kyle Brotzman.
Being a college athlete myself, I do not understand why fans blame players on lost games. Some people do not understand the pressure college athletes are under. It is not easy for Kyle Brotzman, who is 21 years old to kick a game winning field goal in front of 20,000 or more people. Put your feet in the shoes of Kyle Brotzman. How do you think he feels? He knows what happened and it is hard enough he now has to hear it from fans through immature messages. This is the disappointing attitude student athletes come under when something negative comes out. How will fans feel if Brotzman tries to hurt himself all because of a missed field goal and the negative scrutiny he has come under? Fans need to grow up and learn that football is a team sport, not an individual sport. My old coach used to say, “We win as a whole, and We lose as a whole!” This is the attitude fans need to recognize and appreciate. Fans need to relax on the threats towards Brotzman and move on.
If he had kicked the winning field goal, he'd be a hero. Instead, he's a judas goat. Professional athletes (and I include college football players in that category) should be aware that it all goes with the job.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you bmw, people need to understand what these student athletes go through. For example Cam Newton of AUB, he went through a lot, half of Alabama never wanted to see that kid again and said that he is going to bring down all of college football. Obviously that wasnt going to happen but whether they are a fan of the team or not, when they find fault with someone they will jump all over it.
ReplyDeleteI was also on a sports team and was also told we win or lose as a team...Brotzman is undoubtedly beating himself up so he sure as hell doesn't need anyone else helping.
As for Anonymous: College players are not professional, they are college players. If they were professional, they would be playing and getting paid by a professional football team.
Baseball has farm teams. Other professional sports use college teams as feeders for their talent. College athletes are paid in non-monetary ways for their participation.
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